How Do Health Policies Affect The Elderly

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Personal health has a long standing significance to both the United States economy and the system of social justice. Health policy is defined as “decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society” (WHO, 2013). These policies have the power to direct or influence actions, behaviors, and other conclusions. There are various factors that may play a role in the enactment or dismissal of health policies as well as how these may affect the elderly population. One of the largest policies affecting the aging population is the Medicare and Medicaid Act signed into law in 1965. As well as a more recent policy, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010. Healthcare policy is intended to benefit the health of all, but that may not always be what occurs. …show more content…

This impacts all generations because it outlines continued growth, healthier populations, and a longer life. As our population continues to grow and change, our health care policies are also changing to help benefit this. According to Debra Wood, “Nearly 40 million people living in the United States are age 65 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which projects that number will grow to 88.5 million people by 2050”(Wood, 2011). Health Policy is able to both directly and indirectly affect this population. Elderly patients use more health services and have more health needs than the younger population. Therefore programs like Medicare are important to this population that does not have private insurance to help cover the costs of

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